Even though she’s only released only her second album, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn showed during her 75 minute set at Blue Whale that she could very well be the torch carrier for today’s generation of jazz fans. Teamed with a swinging band of Marcus G. Miller/as, Keith Brown/p, Rashaan Carter/b and Anwar Marshall/dr, Ms. Horn collected up all of the energy and lessons from previous singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, and pureed them through her own being to create an exciting and forward looking approach to jazz singing and jazz living.
Dressed like Queen Nefertiti, complete with ankh around her wrist, Ms. Horn displayed a regal authority as she delivered her own breezy “Free Your Mind” with verve, clarity and confidence. Engaging the audience with the comfort of a Toastmistress, Ms. Horn made each attendee feel like they were part of the performance, as she opened by thanking everyone “for coming on this journey with me.”
Explaining that “my songs come from my womb; they are my babies,” Horn delivered a personal poem with the delicate support of Brown’s dainty keys on “ Time” which displayed not only her emotional depths, but her artistic flexibility in both dynamics and playing with each note and giving each syllable a life of its own.
She was able to display a fun bit of sass and grit as well, talking about her multi-dimensions of inspiration for composing as “a mother, a songwriter, and an artist” before delving a saucy attitude on the roller coaster ride of the R&B injected “When I Say” that had Miller blowing out smoke rings.
Taking things down a notch, a trio format opened with just Horn and Brown softly taking the standard “Skylark” and stretching it like Play Do so that the original image was still observable, but with a completely personal and fresh image as Carter and Marshall joined in to allow a soft landing for the leader.
Ms. Horn closed the evening with songs from her inspiration, Betty Carter, with a pair of her tunes. The Brazilian “Amazon” had her mix passionate lyrics with vocal squeals , coos and yelps that created sounds of the South American rain forest, while her mix of blues and street preaching on “Tight” had her twisting notes, syllables and tones with the taste of a Fireball jawbreaker; hot on the outside and sweeter the closer you get to the center.
After the show, I asked the lady behind me what she thought of the performance. “ She’s a force of nature!” was the enthusiastic response, not unlike the power of the Nile River to which she gave homage to this evening of honoring the past and looking joyfully to the future.
Upcoming shows at Blue Whale include Kneebody 10/03-05, Angel City Jazz Fest 10/06 & 12, Joel Ross 10/15, Larry Grenadier solo 10/24, Avishai Cohen 10/26-27